Honoured with Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in 1993
for making remarkable performances in the field of atomic energy in Pakistan,
Engr. Waqar Murtaza Butt has been serving Karachi Nuclear Power Complex (KNPC)
since about 30 years. He is presently working as Director General, KNPC. Karachi
Nuclear Power Plan (KANUPP), which has a single unit having current electricity
production capacity of approximately 100 mega watts, is a part of KNPC and is
owned and operated by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). It is located at
Paradise Point on the Arabian Sea Coast, about 15 miles to the west of Karachi.
It started its commercial operation in 1972 with an initial total gross capacity
of 137 Mega Watts. Like other electricity supplier of KESC, the atomic plant is
generating electricity through nuclear fission process. While talking to PAGE,
DG KNPC said except generation of heat to operate electricity production plant
through nuclear energy, rest of the process is quite analogous to thermal,
hydro, wind, and other alternative methods of producing electricity power.

Following his graduation in
BE-Mechanical Engineering in 1971 from NED University, he was qualified for
completing his masters in nuclear engineering from Quaid-e-Azam University on
PAEC's scholarship programme. At that time, PAEC was not awarding degree.
Therefore, Qauid-e-Azam University facilitated degree-warding study of PAEC
similar to present NED-KANUPP understanding. The PAEC offers jobs in addition to
jobs to graduated engineers and MSC physics at its designated facilities. Now,
it has got degree awarding status by government of Pakistan. With its patronage,
KANUPP Institute of nuclear Power Engineering is developing human resource in
the field of nuclear power technology for which it provides education and
training to the scientists, engineers and technicians. The Institute is also
affiliated with the NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, for
the award of masters in engineering (ME) in nuclear power engineering.
Basically, it offers three academic programs every year: Master of Engineering
in Nuclear power; Post Graduate Training Program; and Post Diploma Training
Program.

Dispelling the general impression that
radiation emitted from fission process may be fatal for living creatures, he
said, at KANUPP we are fully conversant of the fact and conscious of eliminating
after effects on nearby environment. General public and environmentalists have
some concerns about the release of radioactive waste from nuclear power plants
and its impacts. Although the waste is a part of everyday life, an inevitable
result of today's high technology and consumer-led society, but the nuclear
power plants are inherently environment-friendly as they produce little waste
which can easily be managed. The records of waste management at KANUPP have been
particularly satisfactory and we are determined to manage the wastes to the
highest possible standards.

Since radioactive wastage appears in
solid, liquid and gaseous forms, it has already waste management plan to
minimize the production of waste and to ensure that wastage is managed in full
and complete accordance with both recommendations of International Commission on
Radiological Protection (ICRP), and also with good environmental practice. Solid
waste and resins are stored within plant site in adequately shielded places.
Over 99% of the radioactive substances produced in the reactor remain entrapped
inside the fuel. Used nuclear fuel discharged to-date is stored in water-filled
bays - a safe arrangement for storage. The fuel bay would suffice for the entire
operating life of the plant. Liquid waste is disposed after chemical and
radiological analysis. It is discharged after diluting into huge volume of
turbine and process cooling water outlet. A round the clock monitoring system is
also employed to terminate the flow if the activity exceeds the acceptable
limits. Gaseous wastes are passed through high efficiency filters before
discharge. On line monitors are also installed on the stack to measure the
activity released to the atmosphere.

In addition to protect environment,
detectors have been installed around KANUPP and in the city. In addition,
samples of vegetables, grass, soil, water, fish and milk are regularly analysed
to measure their radioactivity content. Radioactive emission to the environment
throughout its operational history has remained below 4% of the maximum
permissible limit.

DG KNPC is supportive to the doctrine
of producing energy through consuming uranium. As, he said it is comparatively a
cheapest source of producing electricity. In the wake of back-lashing price hike
of oil world over, nuclear energy would give competitive substitute.

Operating a nuclear power plant without
vendor support and negligible industrial resources within the country was a big
challenge. Which is why, he has been recognized for keeping on operation at
plant after 70s stringent sanction. Resulted in resilience, sanction gave a way
to embarking on a path of self-reliant programme. Tremendous efforts were made
to mobilize the local resources and establish in-house facilities necessary to
support plant operation. Following divisions were created within the plant to
achieve the objective of self-reliance: Computer Development Division for long
term solution of computing control and instrumentation problems; Mechanical
Design & Development Division for local design and manufacture of precision
and custom made mechanical components; Control and Instrumentation Application
Laboratory for in-house dynamic verification of pressure, temperature, flow and
level instruments under plant conditions; In-Plant Training Centre for providing
advanced training to engineers and technicians leading to operating license for
the plant. And, other modules to enhance efficacy of plant were established.

KANUPP's role in the country has been
much more than operating a power plant. It has helped scientists, engineers and
technicians of PAEC to gain valuable experience in the sophisticated field of
nuclear power technology and related disciplines.